Member Spotlight: Karen Brülhart

Everyone can make a difference in the world. For starters, all you need to do is take action, and that is what Karen Brülhart has done as one of the original team members that brought SharetheMeal to the market. Let's see what she's up to next.

In three words, how would you describe yourself and why?

Curious - I love to travel and meet new people, eat new food and learn.

Creative - I constantly have ideas, even when I'm sleeping I'll have to try hard to stop my brain from going into overdrive. I'll randomly move art in my apartment or move a piece of furniture to change it up too. I always have a notebook where I can write down ideas as they come.

Music lover - I'm always on the lookout for new music and you'll find me at a concert at least once a month. I'm definitely that person at the front singing and cheering like a mad woman.

What made you transition from your role as an Accountant to pursuing a social venture?

Fate really. When I met my now-husband, he had just taken a new role based in Berlin so I decided to join him there. I always knew that I wanted to work for the UN but I never thought it would take shape in the form of ShareTheMeal. I can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made.

So, do you have any advice for someone thinking about making a big life change whether that be career or personal?

Be brave. It will all be there waiting for you if you change your mind. Those were some of the best pieces of advice that I received when I made my move from Vancouver to Berlin. Change can be scary but at the end of the day it's what makes life interesting and pushes you to become a richer human. I never thought I would live in Germany or the US. Now I'm living in New York city and I can only say it's been an amazing journey.

How has ShareTheMeal contributed to improving world hunger?

In just two years, users of ShareTheMeal have donated over 17 million meals to children in need! Through ShareTheMeal, people can make donations as little as fifty cents and feed a child for a day and the World Food Programme (WFP) distributes the meals.

With any charitable, nonprofit, and social impact organizations comes the issue of transparency. How does SharetheMeal show that people’s money goes towards helping world hunger?

Great point. ShareTheMeal is part of the UN World Food Programme. WFP is the leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide so it can keep it's costs down! In the app, users can see the campaigns and get thank you messages from real children they've helped.

You recently moved to New York, what is your next career move?

The past 2.5 years have been a huge learning and growth experience for me professionally. I'm currently working as a mobile growth consultant and exploring new opportunities in the tech industry. I'd love to join a team that is bringing a new product to market or looking to grow in new ones! Feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to chat!

What book(s) are you reading right now?

The Sellout by Paul Beatty and The Witches of New York by Ami Mckay.

Thank you for your time, Karen! Thank you for reminding us to be brave and embrace life's spontaneity. Take action and raise awareness for issues you care about. You can also be a hero. If you have any more questions for Karen, connect with her on LinkedIn! Her credit for the cover photo goes to Gene Glover